276 THE PLEASURE GROUND. 



plants may be left out of doors, until the middle or 

 latter end of October, when they should be all 

 cleaned and replaced in the Heath-house ; but if the 

 season is wet, they will require to be taken into the 

 house earlier, in order that they may be protected 

 from the heavy rains, which would saturate the soil 

 about their roots, and be injurious to the plants. 

 When the Heaths are taken into the Heathery or 

 Greenhouse, they should have as large a portion of 

 air given to them as the house will admit of, both 

 night and day, which should never be excluded, 

 except in frosty, or cold and wet weather, when 

 the Heathery should be shut up at night, but re- 

 opened, if only for a couple of hours, in the middle 

 of the day. 



The soil most suitable for the cultivation of Cape 

 Heaths, consists of a black sandy peat, that is natu- 

 rally intermixed with about one fourth of white 

 sandy particles, which is frequently found on com- 

 mons, where the common Heath or Ling is growing ; 

 the top spit of which should not be taken off deeper 

 than the soil appears of a free silicous texture. The 

 turfy, or swardy surface, should be all carted along 

 with it to the compost yard, and thrown up in a 

 heap, to decompose and pulverise for two or three 

 months, when the soil will be fit for use. The plants 

 that have overgrown their pots, may be shifted into 

 larger ones, any time from February to August, or 

 otherwise, after they have done flowering, or pre- 

 vious to their coming into flower. If the operation 

 be carefully performed, it is immaterial at what 

 particular season. The balls of mould should not 



